Reviews of music and some things that I like and don't like

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RIDGEMONT are a four-piece punk band from Allston, Massachusetts, and they released their fourteen song debut full-length, Colder Days. The band plays catchy, pop punk with gruff vocals and lots of energy.

With fast-paced songs, thick bass, great guitar leads, pounding drums and those gruff vocals, the band hits the mark every time. Songs that are short and to the point, no time for filler, and enough hooks to catch a thousand fish, this is one tight album. As you listen to the album, the songs just keep getting better and get stuck in your head. There isn’t one song or group of songs that stand out…the whole album stands out from the crowded playing field of mediocre bands playing this style of music. The album also comes with a great booklet that has a ton of stuff to read in it as well as the lyrics.

You need this album…really, you do. It’s a pleasure to get something like this and restore my faith in the old punk rock. Do yourself a favor and get this, and get a copy for a friend so that they can have good music with them when you’re hanging out with them.

Two bands coming together on a split EP with two songs each. RIDGEMONT from Allston, MA and TWO HAND FOOLS from Cleveland, Ohio.

Up first is RIDGEMONT with their two songs of poppy punk that is hard-hitting and catchy as all get out. Lots of thick bass, gruff vocals and energetic…great stuff! TWO HAND FOOLS give us two songs of post hardcore that have a lot of melody and fantastic guitar playing and although quite a different beast from their partner on this EP, stand on their own quite well.

A great split with two bands that aren’t similar, but that’s the cool thing, getting a different sound and checking out different bands. Very cool!

A two band, four song split EP between Boston, MA’s THE CREDENTIALS and Seattle, WA’s STEELHORSE. Each side features two unreleased tracks by each band and is the final release from THE CREDENTIALS and the sophomore release from STEELHORSE.

The two songs from THE CREDENTIALS are peppy punk songs with slightly gruff vocals and are catchy as hell, well produced and shining examples of this now gone bands talent. STEELHORSE’s two songs are not as well produced, but still really good. Snotty vocals and a nice straight forward punk rock sound that I love.

Two great bands, four great songs that make me happy when I listen to them and they play with energy and conviction. It’s a shame that one band leaves the scene, but another one thankfully comes in to keep the punk rock light going.

This two band, four song split single is going to be just what you’re looking for if you like power pop done right, not too sweet, and just raw enough to keep the rock edgy. These two band really are perfectly suited on this release and will get you dancing around like a lunatic.

From Portsmouth, NH comes THE CONNECTION with their two songs and they totally rock out and have that hint of sweetness, especially on “She’s Gonna Leave You” with the silky vocals and the subdued playing. “Don’t Let Me Sleep Too Long” is a fantastic fast song that will have you jumping around while listening to it. Next up is THE CRY from Portland, OR and “Discotheque” is their first song and what a dose of fun it is. Great harmonies and the guitar playing is really tight. “T.C.P.” is a cover of THE BOYS and it’s not a straight cover, it’s more poppy, but still retains the high energy of the original and is very good.

Two bands playing power pop, both doing things just a bit different, one more ’60s influenced and one more ’70s, but both killing it. A great split and a great way to hear two masters of the genre.

From Berwyn, IL comes this three-piece rock-n-roll band where simple trashy guitar, driving bass & caveman drums form the basis of a glorious racket. Add in some B-52’S AND THE CRAMPS as well as some fuzzbox and you get the trashy garage rock that will infect your ears and the only cure is more music from them.

Two songs that get better the more you listen to them. “Shake It!” really will make you shake it with the pounding groove and the shouted lyrics will be easy to yell back at the band in concert. “In A Band” is a nice little banger of a tune telling us the way it is being in a band, but also pointing out that they love it.

This is one great little single that begs me to ask for more from them…I need more songs!!! A short and to the point pair of songs that will be played a lot around here.

Sacramento, California’s COLD FEELINGS have released their seven song debut album on Oi! The Boat Records. The band consists of members of long running Northern California punk bands MONSTER SQUAD, WHISKEY REBELS and BUILD US AIRPLANES.

“American Industry” puts the album into high gear with a very melodic punk song that is catchy and could be a big song for them if radio played good music for a change. “With You” has great gang vocals, an incessant beat that gets you rocking out and keeps the melodic standard set by the first song going. “Older Now” has great guitar playing and the vocals are a little raspy and made this a little edgier. “In Between” is a nice fast-paced song with a ton of energy and power and the background vocals really add a lot to the song. “Pain & Ecstasy” is a bit more mid-paced and still manages to keep the great enthusiasm going. “Ordinary” slows it down a bit more, but the rock power that they bring to the song as well as the background vocals remind me a bit of SOCIAL DISTORTION, which is never a bad thing. “Germantown” ends the album on a high note with great lead and background vocals as well as some of the best playing on the album.

A great album with tight playing and a real love for what they’re doing shines through on this release. It’s not Oi! or streetpunk, but the melodic punk rock really made for a fantastic listen and now I’ve found another band to love.

Voi!ce of America is a new series of 7″ compilations from Oi! the Boat Records highlighting Oi! bands from different parts of the country. Volume 1 tackles the southwest of the U.S.A. and features THE WARLORDS, BRICKTOP, THE TOUGHSKINS, and ALL CITY BOOTBOYS. Each band gets one song to give us all that they have and win us over.

First up is THE WARLORDS with “Aggro”, a hard-hitting bruiser of a song with great, gruff vocals and a chorus that will get you singing along and hyped up. BRICKTOP gives us “Walk Away”, a song with gang vocals aplenty, great guitar playing and a fast pace that continues and even ups the energy level from the first song. THE TOUGHSKINS rip through their song, “Numb” with urgency and a nice fuzzy guitar sound. ALL CITY BOOTBOYS are last on the bill and their song, “Sleeping Where We Fall” starts off with terrific bass guitar, a bit of guitar, then the drums kick in and off we go! A great song with energy and nice gruff vocals and gang vocals that made this a perfect end to a great EP.

Four songs that are all meat, no fat or gristle here at all, tasty and still leaves you wanting more. This is a great way to hear some bands that may be new to you and then go out and get more from them. A great sampler from a label that never fails to release winners.